Container with agitator mounted therein



Jan. 3, 1950 w. s. WOODMAN 9 CONTAINER WITH AGI'IATOR MOUNTED THEREIN Filed July 3, 1947 INVENTOR v 3 27' 3 a Wil iam s. moolman ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1950 CONTAINER WITH AGITA'I OR MOUNTED THEREIN William S. Woodman, Cleveland, Ohio Application July 3, 1947, Serial No; 758,822

6 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet metal containers for paint and the like, which have an agitator mounted therein.

Barrels or drums for paint and other liquid mixtures which contain materials which tend to settle to the bottom by gravity are commonly provided with a rotary agitator which is anchored to the bottom and which can be operated to agitate the material before use. Application of considerable force is often necessary to operate such an agitator, and, in the case of a sheet metal barrel or drum, severe stresses are transmitted to the sheet metal head to which the agitator is anchored, and such stresses often result in damage to the head.

The present invention has for its object to provide a mounting for a rotary agitatorv onthe bottom head of a sheet metal container which practice to clean and recondition such containers after use. The present invention has ,for an obiect to provide a mounting for the agitator such that the agitator can be quickly and easily mounted in the container and which permits the agitator to be easily removed when desired for purposes of cleaning or repair.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the container as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described and particularl set forth the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in]

which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with a portion of the container broken away to show the impeller:

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary axial section through" the central portion of the top head of the con-' tainer;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken as in dicated at 3-45 in Fig 1;

Fig. 4 is an axial section through the central port on of the bottom head;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the impeller; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on-the line indicated at fi6 in Fig. l.

CII

V 2 Referring to the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown applied to a drum having a cylindrical body 1 and top and bottom heads 2' and 3 formed of sheet metal. Within the container there is mounted an agitator which comprises an impeller 4 .rotatably mounted upon the bottom head 3 and an operating shaft 5 which is coupled at its lower end to the impeller and which extends to adjacent the top of thecontainer so that it can be operated by a suitable hand crank B which may be engaged with the container, and a polygonal flange 9 at its with the bottom face of the head 3. A suitable packing ring I l is interposed between the flange 9 and the recessed portion H] of the head to provide an external fluid tight connection between the bushing and the head. At the margin of its central opening, the head 3 hasan upright cylindrical flange l2 that fits against the exterior of the tubular portion f the bushing, the upper edge of the flange l2 being engaged by a short flange l3 formed upon the inner end of the tubular portion 8 of the bushing, the flange l3 having a cylindrical peripheral edge that is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the cylindrical flange l2.

The tubular portion 8 of the bushing is threaded to receive a threaded plug. l4 that is adapted to be screwedinto the bushing from the interior of the container. The bushing and plug are preferably-provided with standard pipethreads tapered downwardly so that the plugprovides a ii-uid tight closure when screwed to refusal.

The plug M has a top flange I5 of a diameter greater than the upper end of the bushing I that-serves asa retainin member for the impeller 4. The plug l4 also has a wrench socket l6 opening to the upper end thereof to facilitate tightening of theplug'in the bushing or removal of the plug-from the bushing.

The impeller 4 has a flat central hub portion H and oppositely inclined end portions l8 and $9, the impeller being formed from a fiat strip of sheet metal and having its opposite end portions bent to opposite inclinations.

The end portions is and-1: 9 of; the impeller are preferably" substantially flat, with; their inner ends connected to the central hub portion I! by flat triangular webs lSa and Na so disposed that the bottom edges of the blades l8 and I9 are substantially horizontal and approximately in the plane of the central hub portion [1. The hub portion I! of the impeller is provided with a central opening and an upstanding flange 20 around the opening which has a cylindrical interior face that fits upon the upwardly projecting tubular portion 8 of the bushing I, the flange 20 being of a height such that there is suflicient clearance between the top edge thereof and the flange of the plug to permit the impeller to rotate freely on the bushing.

The impeller 4 has a coupling member 2| in the form of a sheet metal plate bent to U-shape which is mounted centrally on the hub. The coupling member 2| has upright legs 22, the free ends of which rest upon the top of the hub portion IT on opposite sides of the hub flange and the coupling member may be secured to the impeller by suitable means such as tongues 23 integral with the ends of the legs 22, pro jecting through openings in the hub portion l1 and bent over against the under side thereof. The coupling member 2| has a central opening 24 that is axially alined with the bushing 1. The opening 24 receives the lower end of the shaft 5, and the portions of the coupling member adjacent opposite sides of the opening 24 are bent upwardly and downwardly as indicated at 25 and 26 in Fig. 4 to facilitate the entry of the lower ends of the shaft 5, which has a laterally bent end portion 21 that is of a length sufficient to engage one of the upright portions 22 of the coupling member to provide a driving connection between the shaft and the impeller.

The top head 2 has a central opening axially alined with the bottom opening and reinforced by means of a bushing 28 similar to the bushing i that has a tubular portion 29 projecting down into the container and a polygonal flange 30 that is seated in a similarly formed depression 3! surrounding the opening of the head 2. The external connection of the bushing 28 to the head 2 is sealed by means of a suitable packing ring 32 and the head 2 is provided with an upright flange 33 around the opening thereof which fits against the exterior of the bushing 28 and which is engaged by an outwardly turned flange 34 at the lower end of the bushing.

A suitable bearing for the upper end of the shaft 5 is provided adjacent the top of the conta ner and this bearing is preferably in the form of a cup-shaped sheet metal member 35 that underlies the opening in the top of the container. The cup-shaped member 35 has its open upper end secured to the bushing 28 by means of an inturned flange 36 that hooks over the flange 3 of the bushing. The member 35 is provided with an opening 3'! to receive the upper end of the shaft 5. A suitable closure for the openin in the top of the container is provided such as a downwardly tapering threaded plug 33 that screws into the bushing 28. The plug 38 may have a recess 39 on the under side thereof to receive the upper end of the shaft 5 which is of non-circular cross section at its upper end for driving engagement with the crank socket. As herein shown, the shaft 5 is in the form of a square rod.

The shaft 5 is normally supported with its laterally bent lower end 21 resting upon the bot tom plug I and its upper end projecting through the opening 31 of the bearing member 35 and axially alined with the top bushing 28 so that it can be readily engaged with the crank 6.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A sheet metal container having top and bottom heads provided with central axially alined openings, a detachable closure for the top opening, a tubular bushin in the bottom opening having an external fluid-tight connection to its head and projecting upwardly into the container, a rotatable agitating impeller having a hub portion with an opening in which said bushing is received, a closure plug detachably secured in said bushing, said plug having a flange at its upper end that projects past the upper end of said bushing to retain said impeller on the bushing, a coupling member attached to said impeller and having a portion overlying and spaced upwardly from said hub opening and provided with an opening axially alined with said hub opening, a shaft having its lower end positioned in the opening of the coupling member and having driving engagement with said member, and a bearing member attached to the top head for positioning the upper end of said shaft in alinement with the opening in the top of the container.

2. A sheet metal container having top and bottom heads provided with central axially alined openings, a tubular bushing in each of said openings, each bushing having an external fluid-tight connection to its head and projecting into the container, a rotatable agitating impeller having a hub portion with an opening in which the bottom bushing is received, said impeller having an attached coupling member, a portion of which overlies and is spaced from the upper end of the bottom bushing, said coupling member having an opening axially alined with said bushings, a detachable closure plug for each bushing, the

" bottom plug having a flange at its upper end that projects past the top of the bottom bushing to retain said impeller on said bushing, a bearing member attached to the top bushing and having an opening below the same and alined with the opening of the coupling member, and a shaft positioned in the alined openings of the bearing and coupling members, said shaft having a lower end portion in driving engagement with said coupling member.

3. A sheet metal container having top and bottom heads provided with central axially alined openings, a tubular bushing in each of said openings, each bushing having an external fluidtight connection to its head and projecting into the container, each bushing having a downwardly tapering threaded opening, a rotatable agitating impeller having a hub portion with an opening in which said bottom bushing is received, said impeller having a coupling member attached thereto that has a portion overlying and spaced from the upper end of the bushing, said coupling member having an opening in axial alinement with the bushings, downwardly tapering threaded closure plugs adapted to be screwed into said bushings, the bottom plug having a flange at its upper end that projects past the top of said bushing to retain said impeller On said bushing, said bottoni plug being of a length less than the space between the upper end of the bottom bushing and said overlying coupling member and having a wrench receiving socket alined with the opening in the coupling member, a shaft extending through the opening of said coupling member and having a laterally bent lower end adapted to rest on said bottom plug and have driving engagement with said coupling member, and a bearing member attached to said upper bushing and having an opening to receive the upper end of said shaft.

4. A sheet metal container having top and bottom heads provided with central axially alined openings, a tubular bushing in each of said openings, each bushing having an external fluid-tight connection to its head and projecting into the container, a rotatable agitating impeller having a hub portion with an opening in which the bottom bushing is received, said impeller having an attached coupling member in the form of a sheet metal plate bent to U shape, said coupling member having its ends attached to said hub portion on opposite sides of said opening, said member having an opening axially alined with the hub opening, a closure plug detachably secured in each bushing, the bottom plug having a flange at its upper end that projects past the top of the bottom bushing to retain said impeller on said bushing, a shaft extending through the opening of said coupling member and having a laterally bent lower end adapted to rest upon said bottom plug and have driving engagement with said coupling member, and a bearing member attached to the top bushing and having an opening axially alined with the top bushing to receive the upper end of said shaft.

5. A sheet metal container having top and bottom heads provided with central axially alined openings, a tubular bushing in each of said openings, each bushing having an external fluid-tight connection to its head and projecting into the container, a rotatable agitating impeller having a hub portion with an opening in which the bottom bushing is received, said impeller having an attached coupling member in the form of a sheet metal plate bent to U shape, said coupling member having its ends attached to said hub portion on opposite sides of said opening, said member having an open axially alined with the hub opening, a closure plug detachably secured in each bushing, the bottom plug having a flange at its upper end that projects past the top of the bottom bushing to retain said impeller on said bushing, a shaft extending through the opening of said coupling member and having a laterally bent lower end adapted to rest upon said bottom plug and have driving engagement with said coupling member, and a cup shaped sheet metal bearing member underlying the top opening and having its open end attached to said top bushing, said bearing member having an opening in its bottom to receive the upper end of said shaft.

6. A sheet metal container having top and bottom heads provided with central axially alined openings, a detachable closure for the top opening, a tubular bushing in the bottom opening having an external fluid-tight connection to its head and projecting upwardly into the container, said bushing being internally threaded, an agitating impeller formed of a strip of sheet metal and having a flat central hub portion and oppositely inclined end portions, said hub portion having a central opening provided with an upstanding marginal flange that receives said bushing, said impeller havin an attached coupling member in the form of a plate bent to U shape and having upright end portions attached to said hub portion on opposite sides of said opening, said coupling member having an opening axially alined with said hub opening, a threaded plug having a wrench receiving socket in its top and a flange at its upper end that projects past the top of said bushing and overlies the flange of said hub to retain said impeller on said bushing, said plug being of a length less than that of the upright end portions of said coupling member, a shaft detachably engaging said coupling member, extending through the opening thereof and having a laterally bent lower end that has driving engagement with an upright of said coupling member, and a bearing member carried by the upper head to position the upper end of said shaft in alinement with the opening in the top head.

WILLIAM S. VVOODMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,621,277 Richman Mar. 15, 1927 1,827,004 Gibson Oct. 13, 1931 2,137,432 Wilson et a1 Nov. 22, 1938 2,143,511 Farrington Jan. 10, 1939 

